The 'garbage plate' was invented and trademarked by Nick Tahou Hots in Rochester, New York. According to their Wikipedia page, a 'Garbage Plate' starts with any combination of macaroni salad, beans, home fries, or french fries. It is then topped with meats and dressed in spicy mustard, chopped onions, and sauce. The sauce is a spicy meat sauce and it's all piled on top of each other.

But what I want to know is, why don't we have a 'garbage plate' imitation in the Hudson Valley? For starters, 'garbage plate' is trademarked, so we will only have imitations unless Nick Tahou opens a location down here. Second, not many people in this area know what they are. So my goal is to educate and then hope that someone opens an imitation restaurant.

I like to think we are one of the up and coming foodie spots in the state/country, and I think it's time we got a place that serves plates. A college town, like New Paltz, would be the perfect place for it.

In the meantime, if you're ever in the Rochester area, I recommend getting a plate with macaroni salad, tater tots, chicken fingers, and extra meat sauce. You can thank me later.